I don't do this often, but I have to give Ron Gardenhire some credit here.
A few weeks ago, Carlos Gomez was, statistically, if not competitively, the worst player in the major leagues. The batting average barely over .200, the OBP right around there as well, with strikeouts, bad at-bats and bad plays in the field wiping out his occasional flashes of brilliance, which were largely limited to stealing second in the few instances he was able to reach base.
The StarTrib's Joe Christensen noted that Gomez was "dangerously overmatched", and suggested that a trip back to the minors might be best.
I wasn't quite ready to send him back to Triple-A, but suggested that another week of terrible play would be enough to do the trick, writing:
"It's still early, but you have to wonder if eventually Gomez would be better served to go back to Triple-A (where he's played a total of 36 games in his entire life) for awhile."
Gardenhire no doubt saw what the rest of us were seeing, but showed the kind of perspective and patience that has served him well throughout his managerial career (yes, I can admit it, there are some things Gardy does well).
He didn't overreact to a bad week and send Gomez to the minors, but he also didn't stubbornly pretend that the kid wasn't struggling. He decided to just give Gomez a day off.
He homered in his first at-bat of the next game, and since then is hitting .430 (13-for-30), which of course, was capped off by him becoming the first Twin to hit for the cycle since Kirby Puckett 22 years ago.
Gardy has done right by this kid so far, and that's encouraging.
Gomez is still very far from a finished product. He still has a poor on-base percentage, and still doesn't seem to know how to field ground balls/line drives in the outfield.
But it's pretty clear that he's got a chance to be awfully good.
3 comments:
Scotty Ulger says Punto is too good to be just a role player.
He looked pretty good the other night when he forgot to run out a bunt.
Suck it Papplebon!!! Mike Lamb beats Jonothan Papplebon. That's fricken hilarious. Dustin Pedroa...whatever, is a little rat.
Anyone noticing this sweet slump Morneau is back in? Way to get in there and not produce over the last 5 games.
true Punto missed one on the bunt, but you forgot to mention the RBIs he followed with the next time up - if those were you're only two bats in life, you'ld be a hall of famer. Not saying that's a fair snap shot, but to pick on the bunt flub and ignoe the next bat doesn't do justice to this guy. Punto flat out plays hard and does contribute to this team - Lee S
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